Restraint device



May 4, 1965 R. J. MOORE RESTRAINT DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1962 United States Patent $1,189 RIESTRANT DEVICE Raymond 5. Moore, Gardena, Caf., assigner to Northrop Corporation, Beverly Hiils, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227 ,426 6 Ciainis. (Cl. 5-336)v This invention pertains to blanket construction and more particularly to a blanket or covering incorporating means rendering it useful as a restraint device for space travelers.

To insure the mental well being and peace of mind f space travelers, for example, astronauts etc., it is desirable, insofar as it is possible to do so, to provide environments for them to which they are normally accustomed. The above is particularly true Vif astronauts or space travelers are to function efficiently during working periods. During rest periods, that is, periods devoted to resting or sleeping, it is especially important that environments similar, or as nearly similar as possible, to those normally eX- perienced should be provided.

The blanket, as disclosed herein, is designed to combat an abnormal condition experienced by astronauts, viz., weightlessness. The instant blanket incorporates means enabling it to function as a restraining device. It functions to maintain a contacting relation between an astronaut and a resting facility and also to maintain the blanket itself in contacting relation with the astronaut.

Brieily the construction of the instant blanket is such that it incorporates a plurality of huid tight passages each including a plurality of apertures for the egress of fluid (air) from said passages. Thus at such time as pressurized air is transmitted to the passages a myriad of small jets is provided functioning to hold the blanket in contact with an astronaut and the astronaut in Contact with a resting facility.

Accordingly the main object of the invention is to provide a blanket which, when rendered operational, functions as a restraining device for the blanket itself and for the user thereof.

Another object is to provide a blanket which, not only functions as a restraining device, but also provides a degree of warmth to the user thereof.

Another object is to provide a blanket incorporating means enabling cabin air to Ibe thoroughly didused throughout an enclosure.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the inside of a space vehicle illustrating a manner in which the blanket disclosed herein may be utilized.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view ofthe blanket of FIG- URE l showing one method in which it may be constructed, parts of the blanket being broken away to better show the construction thereof.

FiGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the blanket of FIGURE l showing another method in which it may be constructed, parts of the blanket being broken away to better show the construction thereof.

Referring to the drawing for a description of the invention, FIGURE l illustrates one method of utilizing the blanket as disclosed herein. ln this figure a human being, subject to a state of weightlessness, is resting on a facility ii which is secured to the walls of a space vehicle 12.

The facility 11 comprises a rectangular frame 14 con- `atmospheric pressure.

structed of tubular members 15 and includes a sheet of canvas 1'7 stretched between and secured to the members le to provide a surface on which the occupant of the faci1- ity 11 is resting. The frame 14 is pivotally attached to a wall of the'vehicle 12 so that it may be moved into a contacting relation with thewalls of the Vehicle at such time as it is not in use. Wires 13 are provided functioning to secure the facility 11 in an operational position substantially as shown in FIGURE l.

Overlaying the occupant of the facility 1l is the especially constructed blanket 21 as'disclosed herein. The blanket provides a restraining force functioning to hold the occupant of the facility 11 against the surface 17and, if constructed of a suitable material, a degree of warmth to the occupant. The blanket functions as a restraining device due to pressurized air Vescaping from passageways provided therein. The blanket may be constructed in a number of ways two of which are shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The construction of the blanket shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 is quite similar. In either case the blanket per se consists of a pair of sheet-like members 22 and 23 secured together. Also in each instance .passages 24 are provided in the blanket 2l extending lengthwise thereof in` parallel spaced relation. The passages 24 terminate in a major passage or manifold 26 positioned adjacent to and in parallel spaced relation with respect to one end of the blanket 2i. The passages 24 and 2e are provided by spaced parallel stitching 2i functioning to secure the members 22 and 23 together.

' In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2 it is essential that the members 22 and 23 be constructed of a material that is non-pervious to pressurized air or air at super- Y In lany event, that portion of the members 22 and 23 located between the stitching 27 must be rendered non-pervious to pressurized air. ln other words the passages 24 and 26 are rendered iluid tight, this may be accomplished in a number of dilferent ways. For example, by constructing the members 22 and 23 of a material the inside surfaces of which have a rubber or plastic coating applied thereto.

Pressurizedair enters the passage 26 through a fitting 29 secured between the members 22 and 23. The connection between the members 22 and 23 and the tting 29 is rendered fluid tight by a sealing compound 31 applied as Ashown in FIGURE 2. Apertures 32 are provided in one of the members 22 or 23, they are positioned lengthwise of the passages 24 and 25 and are located along the centerlines thereof. Assuming the passage 25 is located adjacent the feet of the occupant of the facility 12 as shown in FGURE 1, then the apertures 32 are provided in the member 22 and function in a manner presently explained.

The construction of the blanket shown in FIGURE 3 is quiteisimilar to that just described in connection with v FIGURE 2. lln FIGURE 3, however, t-he members 22 and 23 may be constructed offa cloth material and need not be processed in any respect to render them nonervious to pressurized air inV as much as flexible tubes 33 and 34 are provided to convey the pressurized air. The tube 34 is positioned in the passage 26 and the tubes 33 in the passages 24. Respective ends of the tubes 33 tenninate and are joined to the tube 34 in fluid tight relation, the other ends of the tubes 33 are closed. In this type of construction the fitting 29 is connected to the tube 3d in fluid tight relation and provides means through which air enters the tube 34. i

Apertures 41 are provided in the tubing 33 and 34 and apertures 32 in the member 22. The apertures in the member 22 and the tubes 33 and 34 are held in fixed relation by eyelets 36. The eyelets 36 extend through the `walls of the vehicle 12.

the vehicle 12 in cooperation with the blanket, a'function which it isnormally intended to perform. Ties 39 are provided securing the blanket to the frame 14' and functions to maintain the blanket in position with respect to the frame 14 when the blanket is not in operation. Also the ties 39, when secured to the frame 14, cooperate with the blanket 21 to preclude excessive drifting of the occupant of the facility 11 at such times as he may turn over. Thus an occupants drifting movements are restricted until the small jets take over and return him to the facility 11.

At such time as the blower 37 is operating pressurized air is caused to enter the passage 26 or tube 34 and in turn the passages 24 or tubes 33. The pressurized air escapes from apertures 32 and consequently is distributed over the entire outer surfaceof the blanket 21. Pressurized air escaping from the apertures 32 results rin a myriad of small reaction jets. The force from these jets maintains the blanket in Contact with the occupant of the facility V11 and the occupant in contact with the facility 11.

Thus it will be seen that a blanket is provided functioning as a restraint system for the occupant of a space vehicle and also functioning to provide the other objects of the invention.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited Vto the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of putting the invention into eiect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims What is claimed is:

1. A blanket adapted to function as a restraining device for a space traveler comprising: a covering having side edges adapted to overlay a space traveler; a primary and a plurality of secondary passages provided in said covering adapted to confine pressurized air owing therethrough, said secondary passages being in fluid communication with said primary passage, a plurality of individual spaced apertures formed in the walls of said passages adapted to direct the egress of air from said passages as a plurality of individual jets in a single direction normal to a side surface of said covering and means through which pressurized air may be supplied to said primary passage.

2. A blanket as set forth in claim 1, in which said Vsecfora space traveler comprising: a pair of sheet-like members including edge portions, said sheet-like members being secured together to provide a unitary member, primary and secondary exible tubing located between the sheet-like members and secured thereto in fixed relation with respect to said sheet-like members, said tubing being nonepervious to pressurized air, said secondary tubing being in fluid communication with said primary tubing, a plurality of spaced discrete apertures formed in the walls of said tubing and one of said pair of sheet-like members, said apertures adapted to direct air escaping therethrough in a single direction normal to a side `surface of said Vblanket and means adapted to provide pressurized` air to said primary tubing.

4. A blanket as set` forth in claim 3,-including means adapted to maintain a concentric relation between certain of the apertures formed in the walls of said tubing and one of said pair of sheet-like members, respectively, the secondary tubing comprising a plurality of individual tubes having a spaced and parallel relation with respect-to each other and said primary tubing constituting a single tube extending normal to said secondary tubes and being located adjacent an edge of said blanket.

5. In a space vehicle having a blower mounted therein comprising a component of the environmental control system of the vehicle, the combination comprising: a covering adapted to overlay an occupant of said vehicle and function as a blanket; a primary and a plurality of secondary passages provided in said covering adapted t0 have pressurized air transmitted therethrough; said secondary passages being in tluid communication with said primary passage; a plurality of apertures formed in the walls of said passages adapted to direct air escaping therethrough to the atmosphere surrounding said covering as discrete jets in a single direction normal to a side surface of said covering and means including the environmental control systems blower adapted to provide and convey pressurized air to said primary passage.

6. In a space vehicle subject to a state of weightlessness, the combination comprising: a covering ladapted to overlay an occupant of said vehicle and function as a blanket; a primary and a plurality of secondary passages provided in said covering adapted to have pressurized air transmitted therethrough; said secondary passages being in uid communication with said primary passage; a plurality of apertures formed in the Walls of said passages adapted to direct air escaping `therethrough to the atmosphere surrounding said covering as discrete jets in a single direction normal to a side surface Yof said covering; means through which pressurized air may be supplied to said primary passage; a plurality of eyelets provided in said covering adjacent the periphery thereof each having a cord-like member secured therein whereby the movement of said covering is restricted at such times as portions of said cord-like members are secured te fixed structure.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,777,982 l0/30 Popp 5-347 X 2,512,559 6/50 Williams 5-347 2,722,694 11/55 Bryant 5-336 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BLANKET ADAPTED TO FUNCTION AS A RESTRAINING DEVICE FOR A SPACE TRAVELER COMPRISING: A COVERING HAVING SIDE EDGES ADAPTED TO OVERLAY A SPACE TRAVELER; A PRIMARY AND A PLURALITY OF SECONDARY PASSAGES PROVIDED IN SAID COVERING ADAPTED TO CONFINE PRESSURIZED AIR FLOWING THERETHROUGH, SAID SECONDARY PASSAGES BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PRIMARY PASSAGE, A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SPACED APERTURES FORMED IN THE WALLS OF SAID PASSAGES ADAPTED TO DIRECT THE EGRESS OF AIR FROM SAID PASSAGES AS A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL JETS IN A SINGLE DIRECTION NORMAL TO A SIDE SURFACE OF SAID COVERING AND MEANS THROUGH WHICH PRESSURIZED AIR MAY BE SUPPLIED TO SAID PRIMARY PASSAGE. 